Externals
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Externals | |
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Publication information | |
Apocalypse White Sword | |
Inherent abilities | Immortality |
The Externals are a group of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Considered a rare subspecies of mutants, most of them were X-Men antagonists. The original, unused name for the group was to be The Prophets, as seen on the back of the Sunspot & Gideon trading card included with X-Force #1. The characters first appeared in X-Force #10 (May 1992).[1]
Background
The Externals are all mutants with the additional gift of
Each External was claimed to represent an intangible concept:[4]
- Absalom - despair
- Burke - fortitude
- Candra - guile
- Crule - ferocity
- Gideon - opportunity
- Nicodemus - wisdom
- Saul - patience
- Selene - corruption
- Apocalypse - evolution
At one point, X-Men regular and former
More recently, however, it was revealed that all Externals previously believed to have been killed by Selene or the Legacy Virus had in fact survived.[13] The only way of effectively killing an External is by destroying their hearts, which consequently channels the life-force of the slain External into others, making them virtually all-powerful.[14][15] Selene reveals she did not accomplish this deed herself because she could not handle the accompanying stress. Selene's assumptions about Cannonball and Apocalypse's status as Externals also cannot be taken as fact, as she incorrectly describes a total of seven Externals, rather than eight.[16] Evidently, as long as there are at least two living Externals in a single timeframe, those who have died will simply be revived to life and health, as was the case with Burke, who was killed by the future version of Gideon only to be reborn as a baby with purple eyes because the present versions of Selene and Gideon were alive.[17] More recently, it was confirmed that Apocalypse is indeed an External, and participated in the creation of Candra's gem with Selene and the other High lords eons ago.
Following the creation of a mutant nation on Krakoa, Apocalypse rescued his first Horsemen. He summoned his fellow Externals to the Eternal Caldera on Krakoa, revealing his intentions to sacrifice some of their life energy to power the Arak Maw Gate. Selene, Gideon and Absolom are revealed to be a part of his plan and quickly turns on their fellow immortals. With the unexpected help of Rictor, the group wiped out four of the Externals and extracted their life energy to fuel the crystals that powered the gateway to Arakko.[18]
It is later revealed by Summoner, the grandson of Apocalypse through his daughter War, and Apocalypse's wife Genesis (Summoner's grandmother and War's mother) that the mutant known as the "White Sword" is also an External. White Sword is the Champion of Okkara (the living continent that was once the single mutant homeland on Earth) and an Omega-level healer, and leads an arm of One Hundred Champions, composed of warriors he has personally defeated and then resurrected.
Other versions
Askani World
On Earth-4935 (Askani World), the Externals were purged by Apocalypse, who ascended to power and took control of the planet up until the 39th century.
Age of Apocalypse
When the time-traveling Legion killed his own father and created an alternate reality, it is unknown what happened to the Externals, as only a few had made their presence known as soldiers of Apocalypse. Candra, Selene and Gideon were recruited as the first wave of Horsemen of Apocalypse.
In other media
X-Men: The Animated Series
- In the episode "Sanctuary Part 2", Saul and Gideon are seen watching Fabian Cortez announce his scheme to the Earth.
- In the episode "Externally Yours", Gambit's past involvement with the respective guilds of Thieves and Assassins, as well as with the External Candra (merely known as "The External") are detailed.
References
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ "External Link". docs.shinobi.video. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ X-Force #36–37
- ^ X-Force #10
- ^ X-Force #54
- ^ Cable #151
- ^ X-Force #8
- ^ X-Force #52
- ^ X-Force #53
- ^ X-Force #54
- ^ New X-Men vol. 2 #28
- ^ Cable #150
- ^ Cable #154
- ^ Cable #151
- ^ Cable #154
- ^ Cable #154
- ^ Excalibur vol. 4 #12